Lexical Summary Gether: Gether Original Word: גֶּתֶר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Gether Of uncertain derivation; Gether, a son of Aram, and the region settled by him -- Gether. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a desc. of Shem NASB Translation Gether (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs גֶּ֫תֶר proper name, masculine (√ unknown) a son of Aram Genesis 10:23 = 1 Chronicles 1:17.Topical Lexicon Name and Genealogical Placement Gether is listed among the four sons of Aram, who himself is the son of Shem, the son of Noah (Genesis 10:22-23; 1 Chronicles 1:17). The name therefore occupies the third generation from Noah after the Flood, setting Gether within the post-diluvian repopulation of the earth by the family of Shem. In the broader table of nations, Shemite lines are distinguished for preserving the knowledge of the true God and eventually giving rise to the covenant line of Abraham and, ultimately, to Jesus Christ. Scriptural Occurrences • Genesis 10:23—“The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.” Though terse, these notices establish Gether as a historical link in the inspired record of nations. Because Scripture names him twice, the Holy Spirit affirms his place in the unfolding human account and in the ordered structure of God’s purposes for the nations (compare Acts 17:26). Historical and Ethnological Insights 1. Geographic Associations Scholars have proposed several identifications for the descendants of Gether: While precise localization remains tentative, Gether’s line most plausibly took part in the early Aramean dispersion throughout the Northern Arabian and Syrian deserts, contributing to the mosaic of Semitic peoples. 2. Cultural Contribution As an Aramean clan, the Gethrites would have shared the Semitic linguistic heritage preserved in Aramaic. This language later became the lingua franca of the Near East and portions of Scripture (notably sections of Daniel and Ezra) were providentially recorded in Aramaic, underscoring the long-term significance of Shem’s Aramean progeny. Relationship to the Redemptive Narrative Although Gether himself receives no further narration, his placement in Genesis 10 occurs in the context of God’s blessing on Shem (Genesis 9:26). The Shemite genealogies contrast with those of Ham and Japheth, depicting lines that maintain a measure of covenant fidelity. The prophetic focus quickly narrows from the broad table of nations to Abram in Genesis 12, yet names like Gether remind the reader that God oversees all peoples, not only the elect line, and that His salvific intentions eventually encompass “every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). Lessons for Faith and Ministry • The Inclusion Principle—Even minor names in Scripture demonstrate that every individual and people group is known to God. This encourages believers to value every culture and to engage in missions with confidence that God has a redemptive concern for all descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth alike. Summary Gether, though mentioned only twice, embodies the theological theme that God’s eye is upon all nations. His descendants likely merged into the wider Aramean world, indirectly shaping future linguistic and cultural developments that served divine revelation. Thus, Gether’s brief appearance in the biblical narrative quietly testifies to the scope, order, and faithfulness of God’s redemptive plan. Forms and Transliterations וְגֶ֥תֶר וגתר veGeter wə·ḡe·ṯer wəḡeṯerLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 10:23 HEB: ע֥וּץ וְח֖וּל וְגֶ֥תֶר וָמַֽשׁ׃ NAS: [were] Uz and Hul and Gether and Mash. KJV: Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash. INT: Uz and Hul and Gether and Mash 1 Chronicles 1:17 2 Occurrences |
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